Method for treatment of contaminated fluids

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for use in the treatment of contaminated fluid is provided. The apparatus includes an outer element into which contaminated fluid flows and an inner element positioned in substantial axial alignment within the outer element and in spaced relations thereto. The apparatus also includes, between its ends, a pathway defined by an interior surface of the inner element and along which treated fluid may be directed out from the apparatus. A waste nanoadsorbent material can be provided between the outer element and the inner element, for use in removing contaminants within the fluid flowing through the apparatus. A method for the treatment of contaminated fluid is also provided.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION(S)

This application is a divisional application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/731,230, filed Mar. 30, 2007 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No.7,662,291. This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/787,949, filed Mar. 31, 2006, which applicationis hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for treatmentof contaminated fluids, and more particularly, to a filtering apparatushaving a material made from self-assembled monolayers on mesoporoussupports for use in the removal of heavy metals from contaminatedfluids.

BACKGROUND ART

Produced fluid, such as water, from offshore oil platforms can containtoxic heavy metals, for instance, mercury. In the Gulf of Mexico,mercury levels rarely exceed 100 parts per billion (ppb). However, inthe Gulf of Thailand, the average concentration of mercury in producedwater can range from about 200 ppb to about 2,000 ppb.

Discharge of mercury into the marine environment in U.S. territorialwaters is currently regulated by the U.S. Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) under the Clean Water Act via the National PollutantDischarge Elimination System permit process. According to environmentalstandards under 40 CFR §131.36 for marine environment, limits includeabout 1800 ppb for acute exposure and about 25 ppb for chronic exposure.International standards for mercury discharges in produced water, on theother hand, range from about 5 ppb in Thailand to about 300 ppb in theNorth Sea.

Produced water often contains oil that was removed with the water duringthe bulk oil/water separation process. As an example, the produced waterfrom the North Sea fields contains about 15-30 parts per million (ppm)dispersed oil with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX);naphthalene, phenanthrene, dibenzothiophene (NPD), polycyclic aromatichydrocarbon (PAH), phenol, and organic acid concentrations ranging fromabout 0.06 ppm to about 760 ppm. Additionally, these produced waterscontain toxic heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, lead, and copperin concentrations ranging from less than about 0.1 ppb to about 82 ppb.The presence of a complex mix of constituents coupled with a highconcentration of dissolved salts can present a challenge for heavy metalremoval using currently available conventional technologies.

In particular, existing technologies for metal and mercury removal fromdiluted wastewater include activated carbon adsorption,sulfur-impregnated activated carbon, microemulsion liquid membranes, ionexchange, and colloid precipitate flotation. These technologies may notsuitable for water treatment because of poor metal loading (e.g., metaluptake less than 20% of the mass of the adsorber material) andselectivity, (interference from other abundant ions in groundwater). Inaddition, mercury may be present in species other than elemental. So themethod must be able to remove these other species, such as methylmercury, etc. Furthermore, they lack stability for metal-laden productsso that they are not disposable directly as a permanent waste form. As aresult, secondary treatment is required to dispose or stabilize theseparated mercury or the mercury-laden products. Mercury removal fromnon-aqueous sludge, adsorbed liquids, or partially- or fully-stabilizedsludges, and mercury-contaminated soil is difficult because (1) thenon-aqueous nature of some wastes prevents the easy access of leachingagents, (2) some waste streams with large volumes make the thermaldesorption process expensive, and (3) the treatment of some wastestreams are technically difficult because of the nature of the wastes.

Mercury removal from offgas in vitrifiers and in mercury thermaldesorption processes is usually accomplished through activated carbonadsorption. However, the carbon-based adsorbents are only effectiveenough to remove 75 to 99.9% of the mercury with a loading capacityequivalent to 1-20% of the mass of the adsorber material. A last step,mercury amalgamation using expensive gold, usually is needed to achievethe EPA air release standard. A carbon bed usually is used later in theoffgas system, where the temperature is generally lower than 250° F. Inthe sulfur impregnated carbon process, mercury is adsorbed to thecarbon, which is much weaker than the covalent bond formed with, forinstance, surface functionalized mesoporous material. As a result, theadsorbed mercury needs secondary stabilization because the mercury-ladencarbon does not have the desired long-term chemical durability due tothe weak bonding between the mercury and activated carbon. In addition,a large portion of the pores in the active carbon are large enough forthe entry of microbes to solubilize the adsorbed mercury-sulfurcompounds. The mercury loading is limited to about 0.2 g/g of thematerials.

The microemulsion liquid membrane technique uses an oleic acidmicroemulsion liquid membrane containing sulfuric acid as the internalphase to reduce the wastewater mercury concentration from about 460 ppmto about 0.84 ppm. However, it involves multiple steps of extraction,stripping, demulsification, and recovery of mercury by electrolysis anduses large volumes of organic solvents. The liquid membrane swelling hasa negative impact on extraction efficiency.

The slow kinetics of the metal-ion exchanger reaction requires longcontacting times. This process also generates large volumes of organicsecondary wastes. One ion exchange process utilizes Duolite™ GT-73 ionexchange organic resin to reduce the mercury level in wastewater fromabout 2 ppm to below about 10 ppb. Oxidation of the resin results insubstantially reduced resin life and an inability to reduce the mercurylevel to below the permitted level of less than about 0.1 ppb. Themercury loading is also limited because the high binding capacity ofmost soils to mercury cations makes the ion-exchange processineffective, especially when the large amounts of Ca²⁺ from soilsaturate the cation capacity of the ion exchanger. In addition, themercury-laden organic resin does not have the ability to resist microbeattack. Thus, mercury can be released into the environment if it isdisposed of as a waste form. In addition to interference from othercations in the solution besides the mercury-containing ions, the ionexchange process is simply not effective in removing neutral mercurycompounds, such as HgCl₂, Hg(OH)₂, and organic mercury species, such asmethylmercury, which is the most toxic form of mercury. Thision-exchange process is also not effective in removing mercury fromnon-aqueous solutions and adsorbing liquids.

The reported removal of metal from water by colloid precipitateflotation reduces mercury concentration from about 160 ppb to about 1.6ppb. This process involves the addition of HCl to adjust the wastewaterto pH 1, addition of Na₂S and oleic acid solutions to the wastewater,and removal of colloids from the wastewater. In this process, thetreated wastewater is potentially contaminated with the Na₂S, oleicacid, and HCl. The separated mercury needs further treatment to bestabilized as a permanent waste form.

Acidic halide solution leaching and oxidative extractions can also beused in mobilizing mercury in soils. For example KI/I₂ solutions enhancedissolution of mercury by oxidization and complexation. Other oxidativeextractants based on hypochlorite solutions have also been used inmobilizing mercury from solid wastes. Nevertheless, no effectivetreatment technology has been developed for removing the mercurycontained in these wastes. Since leaching technologies rely upon asolubilization process wherein the solubilized target (e.g. mercury)reaches a dissolution/precipitation equilibrium between the solution andsolid wastes, further dissolution of the contaminants from the solidwastes is prevented once equilibrium is reached. In addition, soils areusually a good target ion absorber that inhibits the transfer of thetarget ion from soils to solution.

The removal of mercury from nonaqueous liquids, adsorbed liquids, soils,or partially-or-fully-stabilized sludge at prototypic process rates hasbeen lacking. This is mainly because the mercury contaminants in actualwastes are much more complicated than the mercury systems addressed bymany laboratory-scale tests that are usually developed based on somesimple mercury salts. The actual mercury contaminants in any actualwastes almost always contain inorganic mercury (e.g., divalent cationHg²⁺, monovalent Hg₂ ²⁺, and neutral compounds such as HgCl₂, Hg[OH]₂);organic mercury, such as methylmercury (e.g., CH₃ HgCH₃ or CH₃ Hg⁺) as aresult of enzymatic reaction in the sludge; and metallic mercury,because of reduction. Since many laboratory technologies are developedfor only one form of mercury, demonstrations using actual wastes are notbe successful.

Other metals that are of interest for remediation and industrialseparations include but are not limited to silver, lead, uranium,plutonium, neptunium, americium, cadmium and combinations thereof.Present methods of separation include but are not limited to ionexchangers, precipitation, membrane separations, and combinationsthereof. These methods usually have the disadvantages of lowefficiencies, complex procedures, and high operation costs.

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide an apparatus and methodthat can be used to remove heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, andlead from complex waste fluids, such as produced water, in a significantamount and in a cost effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention, in one embodiment, provides an apparatus for usein the treatment of contaminated fluid. The apparatus, in an embodiment,includes an outer element into which contaminated fluid flows. Theapparatus also includes an inner element positioned in substantial axialalignment within the outer element and in spaced relations thereto. Theinner element may, in one embodiment, be substantially tubular in shapeso that it can be concentrically positioned within a similarly shapedouter element. The apparatus further includes, between its ends, apathway defined by an interior surface of the inner element and alongwhich treated fluid may be directed out from the apparatus. Theapparatus can further include a waste adsorbent material, positionedbetween the outer element and the inner element, for use in removingcontaminants within the fluid flowing through the apparatus. Theadsorbent material, in an embodiment, may be a nanosorbent materialmanufactured from self-assembled monolayers on mesoporous supports(SAMMS). To maintain the position of the inner element relative to thatof the outer element, the apparatus may be provided with an upper endcap placed over both the inner element and the outer element at theirtop ends. An opposing lower end cap may similarly be placed over boththe inner element and the outer element at their bottom ends. The lowerend cap, however, may include an aperture in axial alignment with thepathway to permit treated fluid to exit the apparatus.

The present invention, in another embodiment, provides a method ofmanufacturing an apparatus for use in the treatment of contaminatedfluid. The method includes providing an outer element substantiallypermeable to fluid flow. Next, an inner element defining a pathwayextending between its ends may be positioned in substantial axialalignment within the outer element and in spaced relations thereto. Theposition of the inner element relative to the position of the outerelement may thereafter be secured, for instance, by placing asubstantially solid upper end cap over the outer and inner elements attheir top ends and a substantially solid lower end cap over the outerand inner elements at their bottom end. Subsequently, a waste adsorbentmaterial may be added to a space between the inner and outer elements.It should be noted that, in an alternate embodiment, the adsorbentmaterial may be added to the space between the inner and outer elementsprior to the lower end cap being secured to the bottom ends of the innerand outer elements.

The present invention further provides a method for treatment ofcontaminated fluid. The method includes providing an apparatus having anouter element, an inner element positioned in substantial axialalignment within the outer element and in spaced relations thereto, anadsorbent material, disposed between the outer element and the innerelement, for use in removing contaminants within the fluid flowingacross the outer element into the apparatus, and a pathway defined by aninterior surface of the inner element and extending between ends of theinner element to direct treated fluid out from the apparatus. Next, theapparatus may be secured along a desired orientation. The apparatus maythen be immersed within a flow of contaminated fluid. Thereafter, thecontaminated fluid may be directed to flow across outer element, so thatcontaminants of a certain size can be removed. The fluid may bepermitted to continue to flow from the outer element across theadsorbent material, so that certain contaminants can be removed from thefluid flow. In an embodiment, heavy metal contaminants, such as arsenicand/or mercury may be adsorbed by the adsorbent material for removal.Next, the fluid treated from the adsorbent material can be allowed tomove across the inner element and into the pathway where the treatedfluid may be guided along the pathway and out of the apparatus forcollection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an apparatus for use in the treatment of contaminatedfluids in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a vessel for use with the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram of fluid flow through theapparatus in FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

With reference to FIG. 1, the present invention provides, in oneembodiment, an apparatus 10 through which contaminated fluid may bedirected for subsequent removal of contaminants within the fluidtherefrom. Fluids which may be treated in connection with the presentinvention may be viscous, such as oil, or non-viscous, such as a liquidor a gas. Contaminants that may be removed by the system of the presentinvention includes heavy metals, such as mercury, cadmium, arsenic, andlead from complex fluids or waste streams, such as produced water, andmercury from a variety of waste solutions and contaminated waste oils.

The apparatus 10, in an embodiment, includes an outer element 11designed for removing certain contaminants, for instance, solid andliquid contaminants, from the fluid flow. To that end, the outer element11 may be made from a fluid permeable material, such as a syntheticmaterial, e.g., polyester, polypropylene, nylon, metal, metal alloy, ora combination thereof, to permit fluid to flow thereacross in adirection indicated by arrows A. Other materials from which the outerelement may be made include inorganic components, like fiberglass orceramic, microglass, melt-blown, micron synthetic, organic cellulose,paper etc. or a combination thereof. An example of such an outer elementis disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,827,430, entitled Coreless and SpirallyWound Non-Woven Filter Element, and method of making such a filterelement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,956, entitled Method ofMaking a Filter Element. Both of these patents are hereby incorporatedherein by reference. Alternatively, the outer element 11 may simply be amesh or a fluid permeable material made from for instance, metals ormetal alloys designed for containment of inner components of theapparatus and may not necessarily for filtering purposes.

In an embodiment, the outer element 11, may be substantially tubular inshape and may be provided with a diameter (i.e., Outside Diameter (OD)of apparatus 10) ranging from about from 3 inches to about 6 inches. Inlarge part, the OD may be determined by the permeability of a wasteadsorbent material used in connection with apparatus 10, which candetermine the allowable flux rate through the apparatus and thedifferential pressure across the outer element 11. Alternatively, it maybe necessary to provide the outer element 11 with a smaller OD shouldthe waste adsorbent material be lower in its permeability. A descriptionof the adsorbent material is provided hereinafter in detail. Inaddition, outer element 11 of apparatus 10, in an embodiment, may beprovided with a thickness ranging from about 0.25 inch to about 1 inch.Of course, the OD, thickness, and other size related dimensions of theouter element 11 may be varied depending on the particular application,and the environment within which the apparatus 10 is used.

The apparatus 10 may also include an inner element 12 positioned insubstantial axial alignment within the outer element 11 and in spacedrelations thereto. The inner element 12, in one embodiment, may besubstantially tubular in shape, such that it may be positionedsubstantially concentrically within outer element 11. The inner element12 may also be similar in make up to outer element 11. To that end, theinner element 12 may be manufactured from a permeable material, such aspolyester, polypropylene, nylon, metal, metal alloy, other similarsynthetic material, or a combination thereof. Other materials from whichthe outer element may be made include inorganic components, likefiberglass or ceramic, microglass, melt-blown, micron synthetic, organiccellulose, paper etc. or a combination thereof. Alternatively, the innerelement 12, may simply be a mesh or fluid permeable material made fromfor instance, metals or metal alloys.

To permit substantial concentric placement within the outer element 11and in spaced relations thereto, the inner element 12 may be provide, inan embodiment, with a diameter (i.e., Inner Diameter (ID) of apparatus10) ranging from about 1 inch to about 1.5 inches. Furthermore, theinner element 12 may be provided a thickness ranging from about 0.125inch to about 0.75 inch. As with the outer filter 11, the ID, thickness,and other size related dimensions of the inner element 12 may be variedaccording to the size of the outer element 11, the environment withinwhich the apparatus 10 is used, and the application.

The inner element 12, as shown in FIG. 1, may have extended between itsends, a pathway 13, defined by an interior surface 121 of the innerelement 12. Pathway 13 provides a conduit along which treated fluid maybe guided or directed out from the apparatus 10 in a directionsubstantially transverse, e.g., perpendicularly, to the flow of fluidinto the apparatus 10.

Although the outer and inner elements 11 and 12 may be provided in themanner and with the materials set forth above, it should be appreciatedthat similar functionality may be obtained using other depth media, suchas meltblown, spunbond, or fiberglass. Moreover, instead of beingtubular in shape, the elements 11 and 12 may be provided with anygeometric shape, so long as inner element 12 may be in substantial axialalignment within outer element 11.

Apparatus 10 further includes an adsorbent material 14, positionedbetween the outer element 11 and the inner element 12, for use inremoving contaminants, for example, adsorbing heavy metals similar tothose disclosed above, within the fluid flowing across the outer element11 and within the apparatus 10. It should be appreciated that placementof the adsorbent material 14 between the elements 11 and 12 can help incontaining and retaining the adsorbent material 14 within apparatus 10.The adsorbent material 14, in an embodiment, may be a nanosorbentmaterial (i.e., adsorbent nanomaterial) manufactured from self-assembledmonolayers on mesoporous supports (SAMMS). It should be appreciated thatreference to the term “adsorbent material” hereinafter includesnanosorbent material or adsorbent nanomaterial, either of which may beused interchangeably with the other. The mesoporous supports, in anembodiment, may be made from various porous materials, including silica.An example of a SAMMS material that can be used in connection withapparatus 10 of the present invention includes thiol-SAMMS, such as thatdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,326,326, which patent is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, theadsorbent material 14 may include porous particles ranging from about 5microns to about 200 microns in size. In an embodiment, the particles,on average, range from about 50 microns to about 80 microns in size,include a pore size ranging from about 2 nanometers (nm) to about 7 nm,and may be provided with an apparent density of ranging from about 0.2grams/milliliter to about 0.4 grams/milliliter. Due to the size of theadsorbent material 14, it should be noted that each of the outer andinner elements 11 and 12 may be designed with a porosity that can limitthe permeability of each element to the adsorbent material, so as tominimize movement of the adsorbent material across the elements 11 and12.

Although the adsorbent material is disclosed above as being manufacturedfrom SAMMS, it should be appreciated that other adsorbent materials maybe used, so long as these adsorbent materials can act to removecontaminants from the fluid flow. One example of an alternate adsorbentmaterial includes commercially carbon particles ranging from about 8 toabout 30 mesh in size.

To maintain the position of the inner element 12 relative to that of theouter element 11, apparatus 10 may be provided with an upper end cap 15positioned over both the inner element 12 and the outer element 11 attheir top ends. In one embodiment, the upper cap 15 may be asubstantially solid cap, so as to prevent fluid within pathway 13 fromflowing through a top end of apparatus 10.

Still referring to FIG. 1, an opposing lower end cap 16 may similarly beplaced over both the inner element 12 and the outer element 11 at theirbottom ends. The lower cap 16, however, may include an aperture 161 inaxial alignment with the pathway 13 to permit treated fluid to exit theapparatus 10. Lower cap 16, in an embodiment, may be fitted with anengagement mechanism 162 extending from aperture 161. Engagementmechanism 162, as shown in FIG. 1, permits apparatus 10 to securelyengage a substantially complementary passageway 25 within a vessel 20(see FIG. 2) designed to direct the flow of contaminated fluid intoapparatus 10 and across the outer element 11, adsorbent material 14,inner element 12 and into pathway 13. Such as vessel can be commerciallyobtained through Perry Equipment Corporation in Mineral Wells, Tex. Topermit a substantially fluid tight engagement between the mechanism 162and complementary passageway 25, a seal 163, such as an O-ring, may beprovided on the engagement mechanism 162. Of course, more than oneO-ring may be used, as illustrated in FIG. 1, if necessary or desired.

Lower cap 16 may also include at least one opening 164 through which theadsorbent material 14 may be directed into the apparatus 10 between theelements 11 and 12. A cover 165 may be provided to seal the opening 164and to prevent leakage of the adsorbent material 14 from the apparatus10. Although illustrated as being part of the lower cap 16, it should benoted that opening 164 may instead be provided as part of upper cap 15or may also be provided as part of upper cap 15.

The top end cap 15 and lower end cap 16, in an embodiment, may bemanufactured from a rigid material. Examples of such a rigid materialincludes, metals, plastics, or other synthetic material, such aspolyester, polypropylene or nylon.

In manufacturing apparatus 10 of the present invention, the outerelement 11 and inner element 12 may initially be made in accordance withthe protocol provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,827,430 and 5,893,956 notedabove. Thereafter, the inner and outer elements 11 and 12 may be cut toa desirable length. In one embodiment, the length may range from about 4to about 5 feet long. Of course, other lengths may be used depending onthe application that is being carried out.

The upper cap 15 and lower cap 16 may also be provided through aninjection molding process, a well known process in the art. Onceavailable, the upper cap 15, in an embodiment, may be secured in adevice, such as a capper (not shown), so as to expose its inner surface.The upper cap 15 may then be heated using, for instance, radiant heat orsome other method, to bring the temperature of the upper cap 15 to nearits melting temperature.

The outer element 11 and its concentrically positioned inner element 12may next have their top ends placed in contact with the bottom side ofthe softened upper cap 15. Thereafter, in an embodiment, using pressure,the outer and inner elements 11 and 12 may be pressed into the innersurface of the upper cap 15, so that a substantially permanent joint andseal may be created between the elements 11 and 12, and the upper cap15.

Once in the upper cap 15 is in place, the lower cap 16 may be secured inthe capper device (not shown) where, in an embodiment, it may be heatedusing, for instance, radiant heat or other methods to bring thetemperature of the lower cap 16 to near its melting temperature. Theconcentrically positioned elements 11 and 12 may subsequently have theends opposite that of the upper cap 15 be pressed into a inner surfaceof the lower cap 16, so that a substantially permanent joint and sealmay be created between the elements 11 and 12, and the lower cap 16. Ofcourse other processes can be used to create a seal between the caps 15and 16 and the elements. For instance, the caps may be designed to be ascrew-on cap to permit their removal should the interior of theapparatus 10 need to be accessed.

Thereafter, the assembled apparatus 10 may be permitted to cool, and theadsorbent material 14 (i.e., functionalized thiol-SAMMS) may be added tothe element through opening 164 in one of the end caps. Vibration andother techniques may be used to ensure that the area between theelements 11 and 12 is completely filled. In one embodiment, the upperand lower end caps 15 and 16 may be provided with a seal to ensure thatthe adsorbent material 14 remains sealed within apparatus 10, such thatno internal bypass can occur.

Once filled, the opening 164 may be closed with cover 165 and sealed.Alternatively, a plug made from synthetic material similar to the endcaps 15 and 16 may be heated and placed in the opening 164, a meltedliquid synthetic material may be poured into the opening 164, or asealant, such as, urethane may be injected into the opening 164.

In an alternate embodiment, instead of filling the apparatus 10 with theadsorbent material 14 subsequent to the placement of the lower cap 16onto the elements 11 and 12, the apparatus 10 may be filled with theadsorbent material 14 prior to the placement of the lower cap 16 ontothe elements 11 and 12.

In operation, looking now at FIG. 2, in general, apparatus 10 may beplaced within vessel 20, secure in a desired orientation, based on thelocation of passageway 25 in vessel 20, and subsequently be immersed ina flow of contaminated fluid to permit removal of contaminants by theelements and waste adsorbent material.

The vessel 20, in accordance with one embodiment of the presentinvention, includes a housing 21 within which the apparatus 10 may beaccommodated. Housing 21, as illustrated in FIG. 2, includes an inletchamber 22 and an outlet chamber 23 separated by a support plate 24.Support plate 24, in an embodiment, may be designed to include at leastone passageway 25 to which the engagement mechanism 162 on the lower cap16 of apparatus 10 may complementarily engage. Of course, a plurality ofpassageways 25 may be provided into which a complementary number ofapparatus 10 may be securely placed. If desired, a plug or cover may beprovided for those passageways 25 not in engagement with an apparatus10. In an embodiment, the passageway 25 may be equipped with thimbles(not shown) which provide a location for seal 163 on engagementmechanism 162 to be made with the lower end cap 16. To facilitateplacement of the apparatus 10 in secured engagement with the passageway25 along a desired orientation within the inlet chamber 22, and/orremoval of apparatus 10 therefrom, the vessel 20 may be provided with asealable closure 26.

After the apparatus 10 has been placed in secured engagement withpassageway 25 along a desired orientation (i.e., the pathway 13 of theapparatus 10 being in substantial alignment with passageway 25), and theclosure 26 of vessel 20 are sealed, contaminated fluid may be directedinto the inlet chamber 22 through inlet 221. Once within the inletchamber 22, contaminated fluid may immerse apparatus 10 and be directedto flow radially through the apparatus 10. In other words, looking nowat FIG. 3, the contaminated fluid may initially flow into and across theouter element 11 in a direction substantially transverse, and moreparticularly substantially perpendicularly, to the pathway 13 and asillustrated by arrows 31. As the contaminated fluid flows across theouter element 11, it may be forced to flow through a tortuous pathbetween fibrous matrix 32 within the outer element 11. While doing sosolid contaminants may initially be trapped within the matrix 32 andremoved from the fluid.

Once through the outer element 11, the fluid comes into contact with theadsorbent material 14 and continues to flow in a direction substantiallytransverse to pathway 13. In the presence of the adsorbent material 14,which in one embodiment, may be mesoporous SAMMS, fluid can be permittedto flow through the pores of the particles in the SAMMS material. Withinthese pores, particular contaminants, such as heavy metal (e.g.,mercury) come in contact with a monolayer of chemical designed toattract and bind the molecules of these contaminants, along with theother constituents of the fluid flow. As such these particularcontaminants may be trapped within the SAMMS and removed from the fluidflow.

The resulting treated fluid may next exit the adsorbent material 14 andmove across the inner element 12 and into the pathway 13. Once in thepathway 13, the fluid flow changes direction and now moves in adirection substantially parallel to that of the pathway 13 (i.e.,substantially transverse to the radial flow of the fluid across theelements). As it moves along pathway 13, the treated fluid gets directedthrough aperture 161 of lower end cap 16, across passageway 25, and intooutlet chamber 23 of vessel 20, where the fluid can subsequently bedirected out of the housing 21 through outlet 231.

It should be appreciated that the present invention also contemplatesthe apparatus 10 being used with a vessel where contaminated fluid mayflow from within the apparatus 10 outward. In other words, contaminatedfluid may be introduced initially through the aperture 161, up into thepathway 13 extending the length of apparatus 10, and directed radiallyoutward through the inner element 12, across the adsorbent material 14,and out through outer element 11.

Once the adsorbent material 14 within the apparatus 10 becomes used upor spent, the vessel 20 may be taken out of service, the apparatus 10removed, and a new apparatus 10 put in its place. To the extent desired,the spent adsorbent material 14 may be regenerated. In particular, thespent adsorbent material 14 may be treated with an acidic fluid toremove the adsorbed contaminant. After this regeneration process, theapparatus 10 may be put back in service to again remove the contaminant.In an embodiment of the invention, the regeneration process may beaccomplished with the apparatus 10 in place in the vessel 20.

To determine when the adsorbent material 14 may be used up, severalapproaches may be implemented. In one approach, it is known that as theapparatus 10 becomes filled with contaminants, its differential pressurewill increase. This is because contaminants in the fluid once trapped bythe adsorbent material 14 will tend to plug the tightly packed adsorbentmaterial over time. As such, it will be important to monitor thedifferential pressure of the apparatus 10. Moreover, although theprimary purpose of the adsorbent material 14 is to adsorb a particularcontaminant, due to its small size (i.e., from about 5 microns to about150 microns), the adsorbent material 14 may also be a very good solidsfilter. This ability to filter solids can result in the adsorbentmaterial be spent or plugged sooner than otherwise necessary. To thatend, outer element 11 may be provided to filter the solid contaminantsand to minimize the number of times the adsorbent material needs to bechanged.

In another approach, the status of the adsorbent material 14 may bedetermined by periodically or continuously monitoring the level ofcontaminants of the treated fluid in the outlet stream. When the levelin the outlet stream increases to a certain point, the apparatus 10 maybe changed or regenerated.

Although shown in a vertical position, it should be appreciated that thevessel 20 may be designed to be in a horizontal position with fluid flowdirection adapted to the change accordingly. Moreover, the vessel 20 asnoted above, may be manufactured to accommodate a plurality of apparatus10. In such an embodiment, each apparatus 10 may be designed to have arated or allowable flow rate therethrough. In particular, the number ofapparatuses used may be determined, for instance, by taking a total flowrate to be treated and dividing that by an allowable flow rate for oneapparatus. The size of the vessel 20 may then be the size required toplace this number of apparatuses 10 in close proximity in housing 21 ofthe vessel 20.

While the invention has been described in connection with the specificembodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of furthermodification. Furthermore, this application is intended to cover anyvariations, uses, or adaptations of the invention, including suchdepartures from the present disclosure as come within known or customarypractice in the art to which the invention pertains.

1. A method of treating contaminated fluid, the method comprising:providing an apparatus having an outer element, having a fibrous matrix,into which contaminated fluid flows, and within which, contaminants canbe trapped and removed from the fluid flow, an inner element positionedin substantial axial alignment within the outer element, a plurality ofwaste adsorbent particles, each having nanometer sized pores, theparticles being disposed between the outer element and the inner elementand designed to remove contaminants within the fluid flow, and asubstantially hollow pathway, defined by an interior surface of theinner element, along which treated fluid exiting the inner element intothe pathway can be directed out from the apparatus; immersing theapparatus within a flow of contaminated fluid; directing thecontaminated fluid to flow across the outer element, so as to removesolid contaminants; permitting the fluid to flow from the outer elementacross the waste adsorbent particles, so as to remove additionalcontaminants from the fluid flow; allowing the fluid treated from theadsorbent material to move across the inner element and into thepathway; and guiding the treated fluid along the substantially hollowpathway and out of the apparatus for collection.
 2. A method as setforth in claim 1, wherein, in the step of providing, the adsorbentparticles include self-assembled monolayers on mesoporous supports(SAMMS).
 3. A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein, in the step ofproviding, the particles include silica.
 4. A method as set forth inclaim 1, wherein, in the step of providing, the particles include carbonranging from about 8 to about 30 mesh in size.
 5. A method as set forthin claim 1, wherein, in the step of immersing, the contaminated fluidincludes one of oils, waste oils, or a combination thereof.
 6. A methodas set forth in claim 1, wherein, in the step of immersing, contaminatedfluid includes a liquid or a gas.
 7. A method as set forth in claim 1,wherein, in the step of immersing, the contaminated fluid includesproduced water.
 8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein the step ofdirecting includes directing the fluid flow substantially radiallyacross the outer element.
 9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein,in the step of permitting, the additional contaminants include heavymetals.
 10. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein, in the step ofpermitting, the additional contaminants include mercury, silver, lead,uranium, plutonium, neptunium, americium, arsenic, cadmium, or acombination thereof.
 11. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein thestep of guiding includes directing the treated fluid to flow along thepathway in a direction substantially transverse to a direction taken bythe contaminated fluid across the outer element.
 12. A method as setforth in claim 1, further including regenerating spent adsorbentmaterials filled with contaminants, so as to remove the contaminantstherefrom.
 13. A method as set forth in claim 1, further includingmonitoring, over time, a differential pressure within the apparatus todetermine whether the adsorbent materials have been filled withcontaminants.
 14. A method as set forth in claim 1, further includingmonitoring, over time, a level of contaminants in the treated fluid todetermine whether the adsorbent materials have been filled withcontaminants.